Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Friday February 27

As the final weekend before the trade deadline began there were 5 games up for grabs on Friday night. Former Islanders pulled off a clean sweep and contributed in all 5 of those contests. Here is a look at their efforts:

Montreal defenseman Mathieu Schneider scored the game winning powerplay tally in OT and added a powerplay assist earlier in the game as the Canadiens downed the host Philadelphia Flyers 4-3. In 5 games with the Habs Schneider has 5 points on 3 goals and 2 assists. He now has 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) on 49 games this season making the 20+ point mark for the 11th straight year and 18th time overall. The game winner was the first of the season for Schneids and the 35th of his career. All 5 of his points with Montreal have come on the man advantage compared to only 4 (1 goal, 3 assists) while with the Atlanta Thrashers.

Playing for the first time in nearly 2 weeks Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood looked sharp stopping 30 of 31 shots as the Red Wings edged the visiting Los Angeles Kings 2-1. With the win Ozzie improved to 19-5-7 on the season. He surrendered 1 goal for only the 5th time this season in 32 games. Ozzie was given some rest by the Detroit brass in hopes that a breather would better prepare the goalie for the run up to the playoffs. His record bespeaks a better season than Osgood is really having.

Pittsburgh winger Miroslav Satan notched a goal and added a powerplay assist on the OT winner as the Penguins eked by the host Chicago Blackhawks 5-4. Miro now has 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points on 63 games. For the 13th consecutive season Satan has 35 or more points. Assisting on Satan's 2nd Period goal was fellow FI Ruslan Fedotenko. He now has 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points on 46 games.

Minnesota d-man Marc-Andre Bergeron scored the lone Wild goal with less than 4 minutes remaining in regulation as they fell to the host Calgary Flames 4-1. Bergeron snapped a 10 game goal-less streak and now has 8 goals and 16 assists for 24 points on 50 games. MAB is only 4 assists short of 100 on his career.

Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo stopped 20 of 21 shots as the Canucks barely got by the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. Luongo won for the 9th time in his last 10 starts and improved to 20-8-5 on the season. For the 6th straight season Lu has won 20 or more games. The excellent play has vaulted the Canucks back into playoff contention in the Western Conference.